U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District employee Frank Doyle cooks burgers on Friday during a picnic at the command’s headquarters in Seoul. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District employee Frank Doyle cooks burgers on Friday during a picnic at the command’s headquarters in Seoul. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
Members of the Kokkiwon University tae kwon do demonstration team warm up Friday before a performance. (T.D. Flack / S&S)
SEOUL — The Army Corps of Engineers Far East District held its 48th annual picnic at its headquarters in Seoul on Friday.
Hundreds of employees from across the peninsula and their family members packed the motor pool area for a barbecue lunch, games, a tae kwon do demonstration and singing contest.
Col. Janice Dombi, commander, said the day offered the chance “to be able to get the whole team together” to discuss the successes of the year.
“You spend so much time together at work,” so it’s good to get to meet each other’s families, Dombi said. She’s one year into a three-year tour and said she loves the country and its people.
Yi Chong-hui, 53, has worked for with the Far East District for 25 years.
She said she enjoys the teamwork that went into planning and hosting the day.
“I think it is really good,” she said of the event. “I just enjoyed myself today.”
And Kim Hwa-yong, who’s worked at the compound for 26 years, said he helped organize the tae kwon do demonstration.
The 56-year-old employee is a tae kwon do coach and international referee. He was able to persuade Korea’s premier tae kwon do demonstration team, from Kokkiwon University, to perform on Friday.
The team wowed the audience, smashing boards, flipping through the air and sparring.
He said it’s nice to gather all the employees for a day, where “we are meeting face-to-face, catching up with one another’s lives.”
Hwang Hae-rym contributed to this report.
